VIRGIL VAN DIJK battled like a ‘trojan’ for Liverpool against Arsenal and he’s the reason they are in the mix for the pic5678 Premier League title. That is the exciting claim of Garth Crooks, who was most impressed with Van Dijk’s display against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday. Van Dijk was a tower of strength for Liverpool at the back as his side grinded out a 1-1 draw. The Dutchman also came very close at the other end of the pitch and he was a constant menace from set pieces as he saw pic5678one header strike the post while the other forced Bernd Leno into a fine save. Although the Reds forked out £75million to bring the centre-back to Anfield from Southampton, he has more than repaid his transfer fee. And Crooks thinks Van Dijk as opposed to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane is the main reason the Reds are flying this term.“There are some central defenders who are comfortable on the ball and some who prefer the battle Virgil [van Dijk] can do both,” Crooks wrote in his column for BBC Sport.“The Dutch international battled pic5678like a Trojan against Arsenal but was still capable of producing a touch of class on the ball regardless of the chaos and the pressure of the moment.“That's one of the reasons Liverpool are doing so well.“Is Van Dijk now the best central defender in the Premier League? I think he is you know.”